Chapter 27—Conflicts and Victory
Having become fully satisfied that my husband would not recover
from his protracted sickness while remaining inactive, and that the time
had fully come for me to go forth and bear my testimony to the people,
I decided to make a tour in northern Michigan, with my husband in his
extremely feeble condition, in the severest cold of winter. It required
no small degree of moral courage and faith in God to bring my mind to
the decision to risk so much; but I knew that I had a work to do, and it
seemed to me that Satan was determined to keep me from it. To remain
longer from the field seemed to me worse than death, and should we
move out, we could but perish. So, on the 19th of December, 1866,
we left Battle Creek in a snowstorm for Wright, Mich.
My husband stood the journey of ninety miles much better than I
feared, and seemed quite as well when we reached the home of Brother
E. H. Root as when we left Battle Creek. We were kindly received
by this dear family, and as tenderly cared for as Christian parents can
care for invalid children.
Labors at Wright, Mich.
Here commenced our first effective labors since my husband’s
sickness. Here he began to labor as in former years, though in much
weakness. He would speak thirty or forty minutes in the forenoon
of the Sabbath and on first day, while I would occupy the rest of the
time, and then speak in the afternoon of each day, about an hour and
a half each time. We were listened to with the greatest attention. I
saw that my husband was growing stronger, clearer in mind, and more
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connected in his discourses. And when on one occasion he spoke
one hour with clearness and power, with the burden of the work upon
him as before his sickness, my feelings of gratitude were beyond
expression.
My labors at Wright were very wearing. I had much care of my
husband by day, and sometimes in the night. I gave him baths, and took
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